Pregnancy is a joyous time, but it can also be very uncomfortable and a bit scary. You want to do everything you can to protect your baby and have a healthy delivery. Yet, at the same time, it is important to take care of yourself as well. While you may not want to take any unnecessary medications during your pregnancy, continuing your allergy and asthma treatments is important.
Allergy Medications and Shots
It is safe to continue many allergy medications and allergy shots while you are pregnant. Most allergy treatments will not affect the health of your baby. In fact, allergy shots and treatments during pregnancy can help both you and your baby stay healthier throughout the months until your delivery.
A Warning about Uncontrolled Asthma
If you have both allergies and asthma, taking your medication should be an important part of your healthcare routine. Some pregnant patients with asthma get better during pregnancy, some get worse, and some stay the same. It is important to keep your asthma controlled during pregnancy. Allergies can lead to asthma symptom flare-ups, which can be detrimental to you and your baby. Studies have found that women who do not control their asthma during pregnancy have more difficult deliveries and may have babies with health conditions. This is because asthma can cause less oxygen to be present in the blood, resulting in the baby receiving less oxygen.
Asthma can also worsen as your pregnancy progresses into the second and third trimesters, so it is important to manage both your allergy symptoms and your asthma symptoms to keep you and your baby healthy and growing. Even if you are concerned about side effects, the effects of uncontrolled asthma are usually more dangerous.
After Delivery
Usually, you can also continue your allergy and asthma treatments while you are breastfeeding. Less medication is filtered to the baby through your breast milk than they received while in the womb. It is not a good idea to start allergy shots and medications during pregnancy or breastfeeding, but continuing treatment is generally safe.
If you are pregnant and worried about controlling your asthma or allergy symptoms, contact us today for an appointment or for more information.
